Manufacture of yarns



July 1, 1941; l A. s, BELL 2,241,471

` MANUFAUTUBE or' YARNS Filed lay '7, 1940 l C O 23 1 Il? Pi'nted July 1,1941

MANUFACTURE F YABNS Angus Smith Bell, Spondon, near Derby, England,

assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, a

corporation of Delaware Application May '1, 1940, Serial No. 333,721

In Great 13 Giaims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of yarns and in particular to the production of staplised yarns, i. e. yarns having a basis of continuous filaments, but with some at least of the filaments converted into staple fibre.

The invention is particularly concerned with a staplising operation 'of th claimed in U. S. Patent No. 1,956,600, according to which a travelling continuous iilamentary bundle describes a surface of rotation, cutting of filaments in the bundle being effected during its passage through such surface.

According to the present invention a method of producing staplised yarn comprises subjecting a bundle of continuous filaments to a ringspinning operation, vin which said bundle forms a balloon about a w l said balloon by means of a guide ring surrounding said package and between said guide ring and the point at which said bundle reaches said package, causing said bundle to contact with a cutting device such as a fine file (e. g. a Swiss file) or a stick of abrasive. 'I'he bundle is thus subjected to a cutting action that severs the filaments without breaking the continuity of the bundle as a whole. With cutting means such as a file or a stick of abrasive (or two or more of such members), filaments ofthe yarn are intermittently out as the yarn -balloons around the package. x

The guide ring serves, to keep the cutting ace type described and inding package, controlling tion substantially constant during' the traversing of the ring rail for the building of the package on the spindle. It may Ibe advisable to reduce the twisting speed somewhat as the length of the package builds up in order to maintain substan- `tial uniformity of the staplising action. For this purpose, the twisting spindles may be controlled by means of an infinitely variable gear, preferably of the positive type.

A common support may conveniently be used for the guide ring and the cutting member. Radial and/or angular adjustment oi the cutting member may be provided in its attachment to the support, and the guide ring may be removably secured to the support to provide for interchange of rings of different sizes. Balloon diameter and cutter position may thus be adjusted in accordance with the cutting effect desired, the weight of the bundle under treatment, and the denier of the filaments in the bundle.

The operationmay be carried out on single f yarns or on doubled yarns; in the latter case the staplising may be eiiected on filaments throughout the whole yarns or may be varied between Britain June 9, 1939 the several components ing the amount of twis component reducing the s component. Fancy yarns, e. knots, slubs and spirals, may to the staplising operation.

A form of apparatus according to the present invention, and the method of its employment will by appropriately adjustt, a higher twist in one taplising action on that g. boucl, spots, also be subjected now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, and

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the method of driving the spindles shown in Figures 1 and 2. Y

Referring to Figures l and 2, yarns l, 2, each consisting of a bundle of continuous filaments, are drawn from supply packages 3 mounted in a creel t, the yarns l being drawn by means of 'feed rollers 5, to which they are conducted by a yarn guide E, while the yarns 2 are drawn by means of a pair of feed rollers 'l through a guide 0. The iced rollers 5 are driven with a higher peripheral speed than the yarns i are drawn from the bobbins 3 faster than the yarns 2. The yarns .l pass over a guide rod 9 and then downwards to a slotted member i0, where they are joined by the yarns 2. The member ld is mounted on an adjustable arm nl (Figure 2) pivoted aboutthe guide rod 9.

The yarns i and 2 proceed together through the slot in the member i0, and pass through theA As shown in Figure l, the ring rail ld carries 4 a series ofrings for a. series of spindles I3, each dealing with a pair of yarns i. 2 drawn from the bobbins 3 on the creel t. For each pair of rings it on the ringA rail l0', there is provided a vertical rod 20 secured l,to the rail behind and between the two rings. The rod 20 carries a pair of wire guide rings 2i, secured in position on the rod 20 by means of nuts 22, each guide ring 2l surrounding a spindle i3 and confining the balloon of yarn 23 rotating round said spindle. The height of the rings 2| may be adjusted by adjusting the nuts 22 and the rings may be removed, if desired, and replaced by other rings of diii'erent size. At a height between the the feed rollers 'l so that i3 driven by means of a whorl guide rings 2| and the ring rail I8, each vertical rod 20 also carries a nne iile 24 lying parallel to the ring rail I8 and extending, at each end, past a. spindle I3. 'Ihe iile 24 is secured to the rod by means of nuts 25, whereby the height of the nie may be adjusted as desired.

In the operation of the device, the yarns I and 2 are doubled together and wound as a doubled product on tube I9 by the rotation of the spindle It. On their way from the lappet guide I2 to the traveller Il, they form the balloon 23 which is restricted by the guide ring 2 I. The restricted portion of the balloon 23 lying between the guide ring EI and the traveller I'I is brought, at each revolution of the balloon, linto contact with the ille 2d. By this means the dou-bled yarn is subjected to an intermittent cutting action that severs the laments therein without breaking the continuity of the product as a whole. Since the yarn I is f ed faster than the yarn 2, the yarn 2 acts as a base yarn round which, in the course oi the doubling operation, the yarn I forms a loose spiral. As the yarn I is disposed outside the base yarn 2, the laments in the yarn I are more ex'posed to the cutting action exerted by the iine nle 2i than are the filaments in the yarn 2. As a subsequent separate operation, the nal product collected on the tube It may be dou-bled with a further yarn (preferably of continuous iilaments) forming a binding yarn about the product.

As the yarn builds up on the tube I9, the form of the balloon 23 tends to change. nbrder to avid any substantial variation in` the cutting effect arising from a, change of form of the Aballoon, it is esirabie that in addition to theprovision of the guide rings 2i, the spindles I3 should be driven at a speed diminishing throughout the twisting operation as the packages build up on the tubes I9. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 3, the drive to the spindles I3 may be eiected through an in nitelywariable gear box indicated at 26. The drive -is taIken from the motor 2'I-to the gear box 26 by means of a chain- 28, and from the gear box 26 to a driving drum said ring and traveller and said guide ring, said cutting device being adapted to engage said balloon and to sever filaments therein without breaking the continuity of the yarn forming the tinuous iilaments to a ring-spinning operation,

in which said bundle forms a balloon about a winding package, rotating said package, during the ring-spinning operation, at a speed diminishing as the package builds up so as to maintain substantial uniformity of the form of the balloon, controlling said balloon by means of a guide ring surrounding said package, and, between said guide ring and the point at which said bundle reaches said package, causing said balloon to contact with a cutting device whereby the bundle is subjected to a. cutting action that severs the filaments therein, without breaking the continuity of the bundle as a whole.

6. Method of producing staplized yarn, said method comprising subjecting a plurality of component ends, of which at least one is a bundle of continuous fllaments, to a ringdoubling operation, in which said ends form a balloon about a winding package, controlling said balloon by means of a guide ring surrounding said package, between said guide ring and the point at which said-bundle reaches said 29 by a chain indicated at 30, the drum 29 driving the spindles I3 by means oi' the tapes I5. The speed at which the drum 29, and consequently the spindles I3, are driven may be varied con- Ptsinucznsisly by means oi the control 3l of the gear Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

l. Method o f producing staplised yarn, said method comprising subjecting a bundle oi oontinuous filaments to a ring-spinning operation, in which said bundle. forms a balloon. about a winding package, controlling said balloon by means of a guide ring surrounding said package, and, -between said guide ring and the point at which said bundle reaches said package, causing said balloon to contact with a cutting device whereby the bundle is subjected to a cutting action that severs the laments therein, without breaking the continuity of the bundle as a whole.

-2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the cutting action is performed intermittently on the balloon.

3. Apparatus for the production of staplised Lyarn, saidl apparatus 'comprisingl a ring-spinning device including a. rotatable spindle and a ring and traveller surrounding same spindle, a guidering surrounding said spindle and adapted to coniine a balloon ofI yarn formed about said spindle, and acutting device disposed between package causing said balloon to contact with a cutting device whereby the bundle is subjected to a cutting action that severs the filaments therein, without breaking the continuity of the bundle as a whole and feeding said continuous filament bundle faster than the remaining cornponents so that the staplized action is mainly conlned to said bundle.

7. Method of producing staplized yarn, said methodcomprising subjecting a plurality of component ends, of which at least one is a bundle of continuous iilaments, to a ringdoubling operation, in which said ends form a balloon about a winding package, controlling said balloon by means of a guide ring surrounding said package, between said guide ring and the point at which said bundle reaches said method comprising subjecting a plurality of component ends, of which at-least one is a bundle of continuous filaments, to a ringdoubling operation, in which said ends form a balloon about a winding package, rotating said package at a speed diminishing as the package builds up so as to maintain substantial uniformity of.- the form of said balloon, controlling said balloon by means of a. guide ring surrounding said package, between said guide ring and the point at which said bundle reaches said package causing said balloon to contact intermittently with a cutting device whereby the bundle is subjected to a cutting producing staplised yarn, said.

aannam action that severs the laments therein, without breaking the continuity of the bundle as a whole, ieeding said continuous 'nlaxnent bundle faster than the remaining components so that the staplized action is mainly confined to said bundle and, as a subsequent operation, doubling the staplized yarn produced with a binding thread.

9. Apparatus for'the production of staplized yarn, said apparatus comprising a ring-spinning device including a, rotatable spindle and a ring and traveller surrounding same spindle, a guidering surrounding said spindle and adapted to confine a balloon of yarn formed about said spindle, and a fine le disposed between said ring and traveller and said guide ring, said ille being adapted to engage said balloon intermittently and to sever filaments therein Without breaking the continuity of the yarn forming the balloon.

10,. Apparatus for the production of staplized yarn, said apparatus comprising a ring-spinning device including a rotatable spindle and a ring and traveller surrounding same spindle, a removable and exchangeable guide ring surround ing said spindle and adapted to corinne a balloon of yarn formed about said spindle, and a cutting device disposed between said ring and trav eller and said guide ring, said cutting device being adapted to engage said balloon and to sever filaments therein Without breaking the continuity of the yarn forming the balloon.

l1. Apparatus for the production of staplized yarn, said apparatus comprising a ring-spinning device including a rotatable spindle and a ring and traveller surrounding same spindle, a guidering surrounding said spindle and adapted to conne a balloon of yarn formed about said spindle, and a cutting device adjustably disposed r-between said ring and traveller and said guide ring, said cutting device being adapted to engage said balloon and to sever lamenta therein without breaking the continuity of the yarn forming the balloon. 4

i2. Apparatus for the production of 'staplized yarn, said apparatus comprising a ring-spinning device including a rotatable spindle and a ring and traveller surrounding same spindle, a guide ring surrounding said spindle and adapted to connue a balloon of yarn formed about said spindle, means for driving said spindle at a speed varying during the spinning operation, and acutting device disposed between said ring and traveller and said guide ring, said cutting device being adapted to engage said balloon and to sever filaments therein without breaking the continuity of the yarn yforming the balloon.

i3. Apparatus for the production of staplized yarn, said apparatus comprising a ring-spinning device including a rotatable spindle and a ring fand traveller surrounding said spindle, a removable and exchangeable guide-ring surrounding said spindle and adapted .to confine a balloon of yarn formed about said spindle. means for driving said spindle at a speed varying during the spinning operation, and a iine :dle adjustably disposed between said ring and traveller and said guide-ring, said nle being adapted to engage said balloon intermittently and to sever llaments therein Without breaking the continuity of the yarn forming the balloon.

ANGUS Sli/HTH BELL. 

